Musical notation



July 27 1926. 1,594,194

D. c. BURGESS MUS I CAL NOTATI ON Filed March '7, 1925 4. 7 :1 0" A Major Scale Numbers 2 3/ 4 5 [6 7 8-I/ 2 3 4 5 6 j @a l g n0r Scale Numbers 3 5 6 7 $184 2 4 5 6 (5) 7 m 8'! i U qo Re Me Fa (Ba Sol(Se)La. n Do Re Me Fa Sol La .D 07% ZJY y INVENTOR.

Patented July 27', 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DORA C. BURGESS, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

MUSICAL NOTATION.

Application filed March This invention relates to musical notation,

ner as hereinafter set forth, a comprehensive means of quickly learning to read the representation of musical sounds, thereby shortening the time, consequently lowering the expense and placing musical education within the reach of many apt and eager individuals who otherwise go through life with 10 great regrets. that they are not able to take music lessons because it takes so long and 'costs so much for a practical course, this very simple means of doing away with confusing, mystifying terms and giving each tone representative a visible identity of its own, while not in the least'detracting from anything learned in the old way, will be'met with approval by all students, would-be students and teachers of music, the latter of whom have the rapid advancement of their pupils at heart.

A further object of the invention is to substitute for each signature it (sharp) the letter R placed on the sharped degrees as a more adequate. representative symbol for the raising of a tone by playing it on the next key of the piano or organ (fret or fingerboard position, etc.) to the right, in connection with the additional symbol of a specially shaped note (where a raise of tone is required) pointing to the right, for in stantaneous identification, thus: i

A further object of the invention is to substitute for each signature b (flat) the letter .L placed on the flatted degrees as a more adequate representative symbol for the lowering of a tone by playing it on the next key of piano or organ (fret or fingerboard position, etc.) to the left, in connection with the additional symbol of a specially shaped note pointing to the left (where a lowering of tone is required) for instantaneous identification, thus:

A further object of the invention is to dispense with the use of the sign for h (natural) as an unnecessary sign and simply using the present style round note, thus:

for all so-called natural or staffdegree tones (white keys of the piano or organ).

A further object of the invention resides 7, 1925. Serial No. 13,905.

' in the arrangement of the double sharped I; andhas for its object to provide, in a mannote now generally indicated as 7 and which stands on one degree and is to be played on the second key tothe right, representing the staff-degree next above, the

note in accordance with this invention will retain its position according to musical orthography and hold its lower staff-degree, but will be raised in size to reach and point to the right, the staff-degree above, on which it should be played, thus and further whereby the form or arrangement of a double flat note, in accordance with this invention, now generally indicated as it, is similar to the double sharped note above, with the exception that the note will be lowered and point to the left, the stafiedegree below to indicate the lowering of a tone two half-steps, thus:

A further object of the invention is to' provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, musical notation with plain-to-follow symbols and guides more adequately expressive than the symbols and guides now in general use, thereby materially reducing the complexity .of the present forms or methods of musical notation which seriously retard the progress of even the brightest students.

A practical embodiment of musical notation, in accordance with this invention, is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference 1ndicate corresponding parts in all the views and in which,

Figure lillustrates a staff provided with forms of musical notation, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 illustrates two octaves of staffdegree notes, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a staflf provided with parallel minor and major scales, in accordance with this invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of an interval guide for parallel major and minor scales.

In connection with musical notation, in

. accordance with this invention, there is no symbol generally employed to change made in the representation of time measure, time, or rhythm, as the same is measured identically in the manner as now carried out.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 denote generally examples of musical notation, in accordance with this invention.

By reference to example 1, the le ter R, as indicated at 6, is substituted for the symbol which indicates a sharp. The letter R (standing for right-raise) placed atthe beginning of a song or sheet of music in place of the'symbol indicating a sharp, will more adequately indicate or express hat the note on the line or space 7 upon which the let- 'ter R is positioned is to be played a halfstep higher than the natural staff-degree note, next key to the right. The note 7 is of triangular contour and projects laterally from the upper end of the stem 8 and to the right. The use of the triangular-shaped note, pointing to the right, in connection with the letter R indicates at a glance where a note should be played on the piano or oran, or any instrument, as well as vastly acilitates the reading of music for voice, under such conditions overcoming the strenuous mental efi'ort according to the present system of notation.

With reference to example 2, the letter L, as indicated at 9, is substituted for the indicate flat. The letter L (standing for left-- lower) placed at the beginning of a song or sheet of music in place of the symbol now used to indicate flat, will more adequately express or indicate that the note 10 on the line or space upon which the letter L is positioned is to be played a half-step lower than the natural staff-degree note, next key to left. The note 10 is connected with a stem 11 and points to the left and in connecleft.

Referring to example 3, the symbol now employed, for indicating a natural is dispensed with and all natural notes, as indicated at 14, will be the present style of sharped and doubly flatted are of triangular shape, point left and right respectively, but somewhat elongated on two sides form ar. acute angle so as to reach over the two staffdegrees involved, the first of which represents the orthography and the second the tone desired, thus preserving the rules of harmony as set forth by many worthy authorities. In example 4, the reference character 17 indicates the letter R to designate sharp, and in example 5 the reference character 18 designates the letter L, which indicates flat.

By the use of the arrangement of musical notation as aforesaid, new music may be written without the presence of a lavish scattering of sharps, flats and naturals over the face of a sheet of music, which is mystifying to the student. Furthermore, the student, as well as the teacher, can readily, (on music already published), place the nec essary points, left or right, respectively, to the notes requiring raising or lowering from their staff-degree positions, in accordance with the musical notation set forth herein, and which is an invaluable feature of this invention.

Referring to Figure 2, a staff is indicated at 19, which is providedwith two octaves of staff-degree notes. One octave is generally indicated by the reference character 20 and the other octave is generallyv indicated by the reference character 21. The notes of each octave are in the form of an open head, or what may be termed a white head 22. Each octave further includes black filled head left and right triangular pointed notes with stem, as indicated at 23, 24 respectively, between the staff-degree notes, which represent the tones between the staff-degree key tones, commonly called sharps and flats. Each octave is furthermore provided with black filled head left and right triangular pointed notes, in parenthesis, indicating e and b sharp and f and c fiat respectively, 'as indicated at 25. Referring to Figure 3, 26 denotes a staff provided with the scale (one octave up and down) of E L major within its parallel C minor, veach overlapping the other. The minor is indicated ,in black filled notes 27 and with small white center notes 28, to represent its parallel major which ends in white or open headed notes 29.

The parallelism illustrated in Figure 3, applicable to all the major and their parallel minor scales, with a D. C. B. interval guide as illustrated in Figure 4, (indicated at 30), which may be made in any number of octaves, constructed preferably to fold in octave lengths (or any length) and of a size to fit over the keys of a piano or organ and movable along back of the black ke s, will be an invaluable aid to the stu ent of harmony.

By reference to Figure 4, 31 denotes the major scale numbers and 32 the minor scale numbers, and associated with said scales is a vocal scale33. The major scale numbers are arranged in parallelism with the minor scale numbers and the vocal scale indications are arranged in parallelism with respect to the numbers of the major and minor scales.

It is thought that the many advantagesof musical notation, in accordance with this 1nvention, can be readil understood, particularly in view of the act that it provides a comprehensive means of quickly learning to read the representation of musical sounds, thereby shortening the time, under such conditions consequently lowering the expense of a musical education, and although the preferred embodiment of the inventlon is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the forms of notes can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

. What I claim is:

1. In musical notation a double raise (double-sharp) in tone means consisting of a triangular shaped note positioned according to musical orthography, holding its lower staff-degree pointing to the right and raised in size to reach and point out the staff-degree on which indicated key it should be played.

2. In musical notation a double lowering (double-flat in tone means consisting of a triangular-s aped note positioned according to musical orthography, holding its higher staff-degree pointin to the left and lowered in size to reach and point out the stall-degree on which indicated key it should be played. I

3. In musical notation a major scale within its relative minor scale, each overlapping the other, said minor scale formed of black notes with white centers to represent its major scale notes, said major scale ending in white or open headed notes for illustration in the study of musical harmony.

4. In musical notation a major scale with.-

in its relative minor scale, each overlapping the other, said minor scale formed of black notes with white centers to represent its major scale notes, said major scale ending in white or open headed notes for illustration in the study of musical harmony, and a relative major and minor scale interval guide to associate therewith.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature hereto.

DORA C. BURGESS. 

